Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan has claimed that RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will take aim at the nation’s bigots.
The Galway native said that the UK version of the hit reality show will be an ‘eff you’ to anyone struggling to accept LGBT+ rights, as the show contains an overt ‘political edge’ with the ‘most positive message’.
Coughlan said this at the red carpet launch of the upcoming show: “This show, it’s always got that political edge to it.
“It’s really like an eff you to all the bigots. It’s showing that you should be celebrating, you should be fabulous. It’s sending out the most positive message.
“If you can’t get on board with that then get in the bin.”
Coughlan, who is an outspoken advocate for LGBT+ rights online, plays the character Clare Devlin in the hit show Derry Girls. Her character comes out as lesbian in the finale of series one.
Coughlan found out that her character is LGBT+ months before her co-stars. On portraying an openly gay character, Coughlan has said: “It’s an honour. It genuinely is […] I wanted to try to honour the story and honour the character.”
Coughlan was joined on the red carpet by Derry Girls co-star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell.
O’Donnell praised Drag Race for instigating a dialogue on acceptance. She said: “I just hope it incorporates everything the US version brings.
“Obviously it’s such a massive success. It’s won so many Emmys, it has done a huge amazing thing for the LGBT community and the drag community.”
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Coughlan used to attend drag performances herself at the Black Cap in Camden, before it closed in 2015.
She said: “I saw Shangela Beyonce (perform), so when I saw her do Beyonce for Beyonce I was like: ‘I feel like I was there in the beginning’.
“I kind of took credit for it. I’m a superfan. I have seen a lot of the queens perform.”
Celebrity guest judges set to appear include Andrew Garfield, Maisie Williams and Cheryl. They will be joined by Graham Norton and Alan Carr, who will work as rotating judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will air on BBC Three on October 3.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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